Apple reportedly paid 20 million Swiss francs to national rail operator SBB after using its famous clock design without permission, according to the AFP.

The company agreed in October to pay the lump sum so it could continue using SBB's Swiss-designed station clock face on its iPads and iPhones, the Tages-Anzeiger daily reported on its website, quoting several unnamed sources.

The Swiss Federal Railway service (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen) accused Apple of copying their iconic clock for the iPad Clock app without permission back in September.The clock was designed in 1944 by Swiss engineer Hans Hilfiker. At the time spokesperson Patricia Claivaz said, "We're rather proud that a brand as important as Apple is using our design."

In order an agreement between the companies was announced. "For the use of the SBB station clock on devices like iPad and iPhone, the Swiss Federal Railways SBB and Apple have agreed and signed a license agreement. The parties have agreed to give the amount of the license fee as well as other details about the Convention any further information."

Humanitarian Fund VS Ego for Apple? Are you kidding me? Of course Apple chooses Ego! Their donation was still sweet of them to do but was it done from the kindness of Apple's heart or as a cold blooded attention grabber marketing gimmick? Apple is just so pathetically insecure, so fearfully intimidated by anyone else's innovations that they have to dissect everything in the hopes of finding something that might remotely resemble anything of Apple's. Then Apple runs to sue hoping there is a daddy or mommy judge type that will give Apple the attention Apple so craves... Apple uses Samsung parts but sues Samsung for A to Z. Samsung and everyone else should just severe the ties and tell Apple to make Apple parts only to go into Apple products. Apple would be totally nowhere then! Yes I understand the probable economical impact for all companies involved but I am sick and tired of petty controlling tyrants who think they know it all because they are smarter than everyone else and who think everybody should worship the ground the ground they walk on.

shows you what they are after. As long as you say you're sorry and pay hefty, it's ok! Reminds me of that culture that says it's not cheating to see the local "prostitute", because you paid for her love.

HAHAHA LOL
Apple in future become more stupider, they sue Samsung for copying idea and sue infringe the design, also about square rounded corner patten, but now they copying other idea and finished with 20mil.
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"Apple CEO Tim Cook announced to employees that the company has donated $2.5 million to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relief, according to an email obtained by 9to5Mac."
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I think Apple more like the clock rather than humanitarian donation :P
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What a Proud of Apple LOL

This is so ridiculously stupid. 21 million for a dumb clock to be used on their devices? Don't they have graphic designers that can create something that looks better? Half the people that use iPads and iPhones can't even tell time on an analog clock. Stupid.